Lakeland football created a brotherly secondary that rose to the top
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The Lakeland Dreadnaughts secondary has easily been one of the more reliable Florida high school football units in the 2025 FHSAA Football State Championships. And there is one unsung hero who encapsulates that secondary and brotherly grit that is put on full display week in and week out.
Junior cornerback Jordan Young, on Gaither’s second drive on second down, was lined up in a Cover 2 zone before he picked up on the out route and executed a big hit, which ensured the score stayed at 8-0 before Lakeland ended up winning 15-8 in the Class 5A regional semifinals on Nov. 21 ― just a few more steps from accomplishing that coveted goal of winning another state title.
“We’ve been knowing that me and my brothers put up a good game against a good team (that) … hasn’t lost in a couple months,” Young said.
It was another good game for the Dreadnaught secondary, as Gaither only had 73 yards passing. The previous week the secondary contributed to a donut game, allowing 5 pass yards.
In the next two games, the secondary comprising Young, junior defensive back Deonte Fielder, junior Ahmaad Watts, sophomore Dominc Harris Payne, senior Christiopher Cresser and junior Travoris Black played well enough to win.
For Young in the playoffs, he racked up seven pass breakups and six tackles, which for the season has contributed to 34 tackles, 10 pass breakups and one pick six. His brothers have had great seasons, too. Cresser is up to 64 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one safety, a pick six; Fielder amassed 52 tackles, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, eight pass breakups and four interceptions, Black has 26 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble for a touchdown; and Payne has 25 tackles, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, 10 pass breakups, three interceptions and one pick six.
But it wasn’t always about defense for Young. He first started playing football for the Lake Alfred Raiders at the age of 6 when he actually played with his current secondary teammates. He would eventually go to Lakeland and was switched to defensive back due to his lengthy frame and skills.
Fast forward to now and Young has been given the opportunity to not only play with his former pee wee teammates, but he has forged relationships with the rest of the secondary –- a unit that holds everybody accountable.
“We let them know you can do better. We just let each other know. We try to be real with each other too. … We are going to tell you what to do. We will tell you the right thing to do. One thing our coach always tells us: ‘Make sure you help one another. Communicate,’” Young said.
Communication is apparent. But what makes Young stand out is his intelligent play thanks to his two older brothers, Jameson Young of Western Michigan and Keon Young of Ole Miss ― both former standout players for Lakeland. These former Dreadnaughts are instrumental in enlightening Young on defensive back techniques.
And it’s easy to see that these defensive back ideas are bounced off the entire secondary amid playoff games.
“They’re a young group that has been forced to learn,” Lakeland assistant coach CJ Johnson said. “They are very coachable. They communicate very well and help each other as a unit. They are holding themselves accountable and don’t let a bad play turn into another one. Patience and effort to the ball are their greatest strengths. We are proud of their attitude and development.”
That maturation process will be on full display when Lakeland, the No. 9 team in all of Florida, goes for a 10th state title Thursday at Pitbull Stadium in Miami against St. Thomas Aquinas ― the No. 7 team in the state.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: How Jordan Young initiated Lakeland's flourishing brotherly secondary
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos